The mission of Summit Public Art (SPA) is
bringing art to public spaces in Summit
. We hope you'll find within these emails something that piques your interest, or helps you see the art around town with fresh eyes. If you find the information in this email of value, please forward to your Summit-area friends. Thank you for your support of public art in our community.
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2018 Art After Dark Gala: Upping the Game
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Come celebrate 15 years of Public Art in Summit on September 22nd on the Rooftop Terrace of
1 Deforest Avenue
in Summit!
The
Art After Dark
gala is Summit Public Art's most important fundraiser of the year. And this year we are upping the game! Event details are shaping up for what promise to be a night to remember in the heart of downtown Summit, with great food, art and a chance to sponsor future public art installations.
It is never too early to Save the Date and mark your calendar! In advance we thank you for your support of Public Art in Summit and look forward seeing you on September 22nd!
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RAMP UP Student Artwork Makes Its Public Debut at Installation Unveiling
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The June 13, 2018 RAMP UP installation party on the Summit Village Green was the culmination of five months of creative effort on the part of seven Summit High School art students, their two art teachers, and a professional artist. The program owes its success to the commitment of two SPA committee members, Marie Cohen and Debi Schwarzmann, and the support of the Summit Public School system.
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"I liked how we got to design our own projects and work with a local artist, and then we get to see it come to life in the park."
Summit High School Senior Megan Abate
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Students holding their pieces before the installation, with SPA committee members Marie Cohen and Debi Schwarzmann (top left) and teachers Meghan Scozzari and Kelly Wright (top right). Artist Dan Fenelon is at the midpoint of the top row.
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Artist Dan Fenelon with the students and their finished work. Top row, left to right: Dan Fenelon, Elise Yeager, Amaury Rosario, Emily Tricker, Daniel Vandersteen, Megan Abate, teacher Meghan Scozzari, and Andy Toxtle. Bottom row, left to right: Grace Morrissey and teacher Kelly Wright.
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The Summit High School art students all expressed a sense of personal pride with the finished piece, named "Spirits of Summit," and enjoyed working alongside other students. "I had a lot of fun," said junior Grace Morrissey, a sentiment echoed by all the students. When asked if anything surprised her about the program, she quipped, "it surprised me they let us use power tools."
Daniel Vandersteen and Amaury Rosario, both seniors who are continuing their study of art after high school, commented on the growth they experienced as part of the RAMP UP program. "It's been really enjoyable working with the bright colors. This was a nice project to work outside my comfort zone," said Daniel. Working with a professional artist, said Amaury, "inspired me to work better on my art." Amaury went on to say, "in order to become a good artist you have to do things outside your comfort zone."
Art has been part of the students' lives for years, a fact made evident by how quickly they caught on to the concept of the piece and created the work with "wonderful cohesion," according to art teachers Kelly Wright and Meghan Scozzari. "Ever since I was born I've always had a knack for art," said sophomore Andy Toxtle, whose affinity for Native American art inspired the design of his piece. Junior Emily Tricker and her father both commented that some of the earliest family photos are of her painting or drawing. Her love of art recently got rekindled and she was eager to take part in RAMP UP when she found out about the opportunity. "I was coming up with ideas as soon as I found out," said Emily.
When asked what effect the program has had on the students, Principal Stacy Grimaldi, who attended the event, said, "The RAMP UP program allowed them to expand their knowledge of art, connect with people, and showcase their talent. They are all so proud of the work they've done and so appreciative of the opportunity they've had to work with a professional artist and create public art."
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Walking Tour of Summit's Public Art on July 15
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Join SPA's co-chair Vivian Furman Rubin as she leads a free walking tour of the public art in Summit. Meet us on the park side of the Summit train station on Sunday, July 15, at 11:30 a.m. The tour runs for about an hour, as Vivian introduces the art and artists that beautify our public places.
Sign up on Facebook
for the tour. It's the perfect way to round out your weekly Farmer's Market trip!
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Update from the Committee
A new wave of public art is coming to Summit. Our Art Selection committee has been hard at work seeking out and selecting exciting new pieces from artists around the country to showcase in Summit. We also have put out a national Call for Artists, soliciting proposals for a large outdoor mural to be painted in downtown Summit by the Bank Street parking lot.
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We love seeing your artistic skills in action. Submit photos of the artwork or of your friends and family interacting with it to us
at
[email protected]
and we’ll feature it in our emails and social media accounts. Selfies welcome! Include your name or initials and in which town you live.
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Add more beauty to your Facebook and Instagram feeds by following
@SummitPublicArt
! Be the first to know about new installations, see our artists’ latest projects, and get behind the scenes info on how all this art gets to Summit.
Use
#summitpublicart
in your social media posts of or with the public art in Summit so we can enjoy your creativity and share it with others. We love seeing your interactions with the art; it’s a big part of why we do this work, and our hope is that it adds to your life in a positive way.
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